Humming Near The Sewage Works

 A cold and grey start suggested that normal August Bank Holiday weather would be the order of the day. Happily conditions improved a tad and sunny spells began to make things fairly pleasant. My travels took me no further than the area near the STW where I enjoyed a steady if unspectacular session.

Grey Wagtail and Hummingbird Hawk-moth.

Several of this year's crop of Grey Wagtails were noted feeding along the stream while both Kingfisher and Redpoll made flying visits. Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers were both very vocal but there were not that many birds about today. Similarly it was quiet on the butterfly front with Comma, Red Admiral, Speckled Woods, Small and Green-veined Whites representing a meagre haul. Best lep for the second day on the trot was Hummingbird-Hawk-moth when one or perhaps two were noted visiting a patch of escaped Buddleia and just like yesterday the picture I took was fairly ropey too!

Comma and Willow Emerald breeding scars.

I checked the ponds for signs of Willow Emerald, I saw a male here last year and wondered if there might be others around. That he or another managed to find a female was proved by the discovery of scarring on some overhanging branches, I couldn't tell if they were from last or this year but it does prove breeding. Echoing yesterday's experience (again!) I didn't manage to see any emeralds and indeed odes were a little scarce with just a couple of Common Darters, a Migrant and Southern Hawker to report. A hornet mimic Volucella hoverfly was perhaps the best insect and was also the last thing I saw of note before leaving.

Hornet mimic hoverfly, Volucella sonaria

Willows At Willowbrook

 While I was trudging around Summer Leys yesterday (the 27th) I received a text from a recovering Alan Shorrock telling me he had found Willow Emeralds at Willowbrook Industrial Estate. Although I could do nothing about it at the time I resolved to pop in and see them for myself whenever a chance presented itself. Family commitments today meant I had limited time for nature spotting and this gave me an ideal opportunity to check the site out.

Small Heath and Meadow Brown.

My walk around the place was pretty unproductive and there were no birds or mammals of note. Good numbers of Small Heaths were noted as well as a few tatty looking Common Blues. My favourite butterfly sightings today though were a couple of Meadow Browns which included a fresh looking female. My visit to the pond did not produce any Willow Emeralds though I did see plenty of evidence of breeding as many of the branches showed the tell tale scarring so typical of this species. No other damsel species were seen and the dragonflies noted were Common and Ruddy Darter and Migrant Hawker. Having checked out the pond I had to pack my gear up and head for home as time by now was beginning to run short.

Common and Ruddy Darters

My day was concluded at home when my wife Sandra alerted me to a Hummingbird Hawkmoth nectaring on the Buddleia in my garden. I could only grab one less than satisfactory pic before it zoomed off to continue its wanderings.

Hawkmoth record shot.

Fuss On The Bus

 I fancied a change of scenery today and so decided to catch the X4 to Earls Barton and take a stroll along to Summer Leys. At the bus stop ominous signs warning of cancellations to some services were dismissed as I boarded my bus and headed off for a spot of birding. According to local news Northamptonshire is experiencing a shortage of bus drivers but I cared not a jot as I arrived at Earls Barton.

Black-tailed Godwits and Ringed Plover

My walk along the Nene past Mill and Hardwater Lakes was mostly uneventful with just a few singing Cetti's Warblers to report. A similar situation prevailed at Rotary Hide where the main lake did not produce much of interest. On the scrape things perked up a little with two Black-tailed Godwits and a similar number of juvenile Ringed Plovers showing. There was a Great White Egret that showed well before it departed with what sounded like an indignant squawk. Light rain began to fall and I was glad to find shelter at the screen hide from where two Snipe and a Common Sandpiper were seen. It did not take long for the rain to move on and the sun began to break through causing a few insects to emerge from their hiding places. Butterflies noted around the reserve included Large and Small Whites, Speckled Wood, Small Heath, Common Blue and Comma. I spent some time looking for Willow Emeralds but failed to find any having instead to content myself with a selection of the commoner species. With time moving on I set off back along the Nene looking for odes as I went.

Great White Egret and Snipes

Banded Demoiselle numbers are falling but there were still a few along the river while Small Red-eyed Damselflies were present on the slower flowing stretches. Most obvious dragons were Migrant Hawkers though both Ruddy and Common Darters were also seen. Not a great deal else other than a Mink was observed and I made my way back to the village where a couple of pints in the Old Swan made my wait more enjoyable. As I boarded the bus I did not expect to have to get off my comfortable X4 at Kettering because there was no relief driver available. Sadly that was the case as I and my fellow passengers had to cram onto a single decker and make the slow slog back to Corby. It may be some time before I risk a bus journey again for anything further than Weldon!

Small Red-eyed Damselflies and Banded Demoiselle.

Damsels At Deene And Deenethorpe

 Another day spent locally with my day beginning with a bus ride to Upper Benefield from where I walked home. The weather conditions were pretty good and I enjoyed a decent if unspectacular day.

The early part of my walk was uneventful with little of note between Upper Benefield and Deene Lake. At the lake a good number of Willow Emeralds were present between the church and the dam. Other species included Small Red-eyed and Common Blue while there were Banded Demoiselles on the stream. Not much in the way of birds on the main lake though a Grey Wagtail was seen near the stream. At he inflow the water level was high and a Green Sandpiper was the only thing of note.

Grey Wagtail and Green Sandpiper.

Across the A43 at Deenethorpe I enjoyed a decent spell watching damsels at the stream. Good numbers of Banded Demoiselles remain and they were very active in the sunshine. Several Blue-tailed Damselflies were present but they were frequently disturbed by a highly territorial male Small Red-eyed. Best sighting was of a male White-legged Damselfly which managed to shake off the attentions of that red-eyed when patrolling the stream. Not much else of note other than a Kingfisher which was heard several times.

Willow Emerald and Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Deenethorpe airfield was a little on the quiet side though two veteran flyers in the form of a Meadow Brown and a Gatekeeper were seen. Lots of Migrant Hawkers and Common Darters were present on the edge of Weldon Park Wood while both Speckled Woods and Small Heaths showed well. Nothing much else to report other than a silvery looking bee which looked a bit like a Shrill Carder Bee. A bit of further research leads me to think that the bee in question is an old Common Carder Bee that has been sun bleached.

Banded Demoiselles, White-legged Damselfly and bee.

Local Selection.

 I stayed reasonably close to home today venturing no further than Priors Hall where breezy though often bright conditions made for an enjoyable day. My day began with a search for migrants near the town's STW,  at a few industrial sites and also in both the north and south gullets at Priors Hall.

Ringed Plovers

No migrants to report from near the STW where a Grey Wagtail and several Muntjacs were noted. Moving on to one of the town's industrial estates did not produce any sightings of migrants but did produce two Ringed Plover chicks and at least one adult. It was nice to confirm that the plovers have bred locally at one of their only sites in the county. My travels then took me to Willowbrook Industrial Estate where three Yellow-legged Gulls were the pick of the bunch. Nothing of note in the north gullet at Priors but a Common Sandpiper was seen alongside the quarry lake from the southern one.

Y-l Gull and Common Sandpiper

Around the ponds numbers of Willow Emeralds are building though there was not a lot of ode activity. Similarly butterfly numbers are low though the new brood of Speckled Woods appears to be doing well. Both Small Heaths and Common Blues are still on the wing in good numbers and while Commas and Red Admirals were noted apparently feeding on blackberries. 2022 has been a good year for Hummingbird Hawk-moths and I was pleased to catch up with one today. Rather than nectaring though this one was sheltering from the breeze and resting on the ground, it's rare to see them so still! Nothing else to report, I'm hoping that tomorrow produces more good stuff.

Small Heath, Willow Emerald and Hummingbird Hawk-moth

Baking At Barnwell

 My first trip to Barnwell CP for some time took place in the high temperatures which we've all become so used to in recent weeks. Although these temperatures are having a detrimental effect on some wildlife there was still enough on show to keep me interested. My main targets were odes which is perhaps as well as they made up most of the sightings today.

Brimstone and Mandarin

I joined many other people on my wander around Barnwell, it's certainly a popular place in summer! Birds of note seen or heard during my stroll included Mandarins, Kingfisher, Marsh Tit, Cetti's Warbler and Redpolls. Few butterflies were observed with most being Green-veined Whites, Small Heath and Brimstone were seen later along the Nene. My favourite ode of the day was a male Willow Emerald, they may be fairly common now but they're still an attractive species. Plenty of Small Red-eyeds and a smaller number of Red-eyeds were noted on the ponds while Common Blues and Blue-taileds are still on the wing. Dragons were few in number with Migrant Hawkers and Common Darters making up most of the sightings, a Brown Hawker and an Emperor rounded off the list.

With the park getting busier I opted to take a walk along the Nene past the marina and as far as Lower Barnwell Lock. A flock of wagtails feeding on the paddocks opposite the mill included about ten Yellows with most being immatures. Banded Demoiselles appear to be much reduced in numbers but I saw at least three during my wander. Little else to report though I did see a Red-underwing moth of some sort on my return to the Old Village.

Wildlife selection

Nightjars Denied But Today Came Good!

 Yesterday my brother David and I made our annual pilgrimage to look for Nightjars in Norfolk but sadly for us a series of road closures prevented us from reaching them in time. We eventually gave up and had to head home empty handed as it were. Putting our considerable disappointments behind us we set off this morning with a view to redeeming the situation.

Nightjar free sunset and White-rumped record dross

Our first port of call was at nearby Eyebrook reservoir where a White-rumped Sandpiper has been present for a few days. Luckily it did not take long to find the bird and good though distant views were had through the scope. I tried a few record shots though the results were poor indeed, that doesn't mean I'm not going to share one with you here though! We didn't hang around too long but were there long enough to see a Greenshank before departing.

Cape and Yellow-legged Gulls

Next up was Grafham Water where none other than a first for Britain has been found. The bird, a Cape Gull, is a wanderer from Africa and its travels are in truth more interesting than its appearance! I managed to get good views of it and some accompanying Yellow-legged Gulls from the dam where a decent sized crowd of admirers had gathered. The bird eventually flew off before being refound and in the intervening time we enjoyed some great views of Yellow Wagtails,

Yellow Wagtails

Final stop of the day was at the Devil's Dyke near Newmarket where butterflies were the draw. Plenty of Chalkhill Blues and at least one Adonis were noted though the hot and sunny conditions made for difficult viewing. i got a few pics of the Chalkies but the Adonis evaded me. Heat eventually forced a retreat but it's safe to say that I enjoyed one of my better days thus year!

Chalkhill Blues.

Silver Lining But No Clouds

 Reports of Clouded Yellows being found off Lyveden Way in Corby had me checking the map first before heading off in that direction this morning. Turns out it was one of the roads in the Oakley Vale housing development and the grassland where the butterflies were noted was a remnant of the old quarry. I used to bird and walk my dog over this area when it was called Snatchill so it was a bit of a nostalgia fest for me.

Grassland off Lyveden Way and Common Blue.

Despite the warm and sunny conditions there were few butterflies flying over the parched grass and they did not include Clouded Yellows in their ranks. Common Blues were the commonest species and there were a few Gatekeepers and a Small Heath too. A Brown Hawker was hunting over the area but there was little else to report. I may well return when time permits as the area shows some potential but this like every other site is crying out for rain.

Silver-washed Fritillary and Green-veined White

From here I crossed the railway track and walked towards Little Oakley but there was little to report beyond a Red Admiral and a few Yellowhammers. Retracing my steps I passed through the splendidly named Bandy Slaid before emerging on to Longcroft Road. Highlight here was a female Silver-washed Fritillary nectaring next to the path. At nearby Little Stanion I checked out the pond which hosted a small population of odes. There was nothing beyond the norm here though it was good to find another colony of Small Red-eyed Damselflies. My final stop was at the grassland near Eurohub, little worthy of mention though a few more Small Heaths were on the wing.

Blue-tailed and Common Blue Damselflies.